Our current Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has been in the top job for 50 media-filled days. Here are a few of the highlights of Australia’s newest, media-loving Prime Minister, as written by Belinda Jones.
2018
24 August: Morrison becomes 30th Prime Minister after a tumultuous week in politics, including two leadership spills and a rare suspension of parliament. The Liberal Party Room voted 50-year-old, Scott John Morrison, Member for Cook, New South Wales, to become Australia’s 30th Prime Minister.
26 August: Prime Minister Morrison announces his Cabinet: former Environment Minister, Josh Frydenberg, is appointed Treasurer, Marise Payne moved to Foreign Affairs, Melissa Price elevated to Environment Minister and Dan Tehan moved to the Education portfolio. New faces on the front bench include Angus Taylor, Karen Andrews, Alex Hawke, and David Coleman. Many other front bench positions remained unchanged.
Busy couple of days - swearing in the new Ministry, getting to work with the new Minister for Energy @AngusTaylorMP (or as I like to call him, the Minister for Lowering Electricity Prices) and meeting with @NationalFarmers to talk about our drought response. pic.twitter.com/hUj6QI0LSV
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 29, 2018
28 August: Prime Minister gives each of his Ministers an Australian flag lapel pin to remind them of whose side they’re on. Julia Banks announces she’s not recontesting her seat citing bullying.
In a quote from The Guardian, 29 Aug 2018:
‘MP for Chisholm in Melbourne says last week’s messy spill was “the last straw” and women have suffered in silence “too long”.’
Today I gave each of my Ministers a lapel pin with the Australian flag on it. I’ve been wearing this for many years now. The reason I wear it is because it reminds me every single day whose side I’m on. I’m on the side of the Australian people. pic.twitter.com/JAz5jPeXmD
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) August 28, 2018
29 August: Prime Minister asks Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce to be special envoys, both accept the positions. Former Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, is appointed Special Envoy for Indigenous Affairs. Former Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, is appointed special envoy for drought assistance and recovery.
31 August: Former Prime Minister, Member for Wentworth, Malcolm Turnbull, resigns and quits the country for New York, USA. Former Prime Minister Turnbull’s resignation triggers the Wentworth by-election. The normally safe Liberal seat by-election is due to be held on 20 October 2018.
5 September: Prime Minister retweets a tweet about to his followers, with the comment:
We do not need ‘gender whisperers’ in our schools. Let kids be kids. https://t.co/POzM26PXU5
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 4, 2018
The Parliamentary Inquiry into the Au Pair Affair begins.
So Peter Dutton’s Departmental Secretary has asked the AFP to investigate the leak of emails about Dutton’s grant of au pair visas. And guess which Minister is in charge of the AFP? Hint - it rhymes with mutton. 🐑 pic.twitter.com/iBBv9aaeOa
— Senator Murray Watt (@MurrayWatt) September 5, 2018
11 September: Under intense questioning from the Opposition during Question Time about the Au Pair Affair, Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, makes the infamous “groomed a girl” slur about former Australian Border Force Commissioner, Roman Quaedvlieg, under parliamentary privilege.
Curious, stuttering, rambling comments.
— Roman Quaedvlieg (@quaedvliegs) September 11, 2018
What was that 2002 comment re mates in the QLD Police? I left the Qld Police in 2000.
Grooming? Are you serious? That has a legislative meaning. Is that what he meant?
Parliamentary privilege huh?
(Source: Hansard)
13 September: Prime Minister tweets and deletes Fatman Scoop video.
The full lyrics of the song used in my earlier video from QT today were just not OK. When I found out, I asked the team to take it down. Apologies.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 13, 2018
16 September: Prime Minister announces Royal Commission into aged care coincidentally just over 24 hours before ABC airs the Four Corners explosive exposé, 'Who Cares? An investigation into the aged care system in Australia'.
As a community we expect high standards for the quality and safety of aged care services. Our Government shares these expectations. This Royal Commission will be about proactively determining what we need to do in the future to ensure these expectations can be met. pic.twitter.com/pmeMHQNHZI
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 16, 2018
17 September: Ann Sudmalis announces she’s not recontesting her seat of Gilmore, citing bullying, joining other female LNP MPs confirming bullying in LNP including Julie Bishop, Kelly O’Dwyer and others.
19 September: Strawberry tampering prompt swift action by the Prime Minister, new food tampering bill introduced and passed in around 48 hours.
Sabotaging our strawberries is sabotaging our farmers. It’s not right. It’s not on. It''s a crime. pic.twitter.com/2B9TTg9JOf
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 19, 2018
20 September: Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, survives a no-confidence motion based on his possible ineligibility under s44 due to his personal business interests in child care centres in Queensland. The motion moved by Greens MP Adam Bandt was defeated 68-67.
21 September: Prime Minister announces a $4.6 billion funding boost for Catholic and independent schools. Later that same day, the Prime Minister, the number one ticket holder at Cronulla Sharks and well-known “Sharkies” fan, was caught out saying he couldn’t be at the game but would be watching the Cronulla Sharks semi-final game against the Melbourne Storm at a pub that night. He was seen that later that evening, during game time, attending a Liberal fundraiser at the private home of a wealthy benefactor.
24 September: Prime Minister makes ‘indulgent self-loathing’ comment in a tweet to his followers, sparks further debate about changing the date of Australia Day celebrations on 26 January. ABC Managing Director, Michelle Guthrie, is unexpectedly sacked by the ABC board with limited details for the reason why.
Indulgent self-loathing doesn’t make Australia stronger. Being honest about the past does. Our modern Aus nation began on January 26, 1788. That’s the day to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, become, still to achieve. We can do this sensitively, respectfully, proudly, together. https://t.co/uM59Lwrr1p
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 23, 2018
"Australia Day is Australia Day and must always remain Australia Day": @ScottMorrisonMP says it''s "possible, and frankly, it''s necessary" to reconcile Australia''s two stories #Insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/N1vWYD8sMW
— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) September 29, 2018
26 September: Special Envoy for Indigenous Affairs, Tony Abbott, receives a frosty reception in the Northern Territory Indigenous community, Borroloola, by Elders and community members.
From The Guardian, 27 Sep 2018:
“We asked him, ‘why are you here?’ He said, ‘I’m here because I heard that a lot of kids are not attending school’. But Borroloola school has one of the highest attendance rates in the NT. We were confused. He was really arrogant. He didn’t want to sit down and listen to us.”
27 September: Chair of the ABC, Justin Milne, resigns in the aftermath of Michelle Guthrie’s sacking. Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert confuses “debt” and “deficit” on a Sky appearance, he was also caught taking a selfie when the camera unexpectedly turned to him.
28 September: Prime Minister recommends Dr. Kirsten Ferguson as Acting Chair of the ABC.
29 September: Prime Minister attends the AFL Grand Final in Melbourne.
Sorry, @fatmanscoop, I made a new friend at the AFL Grand Final this arvo. pic.twitter.com/bjgYz2wXuU
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 29, 2018
‘Eagle Rock’ ringing out at the G. Congrats to West Coast. A cracking game. Lived up to all expectations. pic.twitter.com/VecwVGwBFj
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 29, 2018
30 September: Prime Minister appears on ABC Insiders, tells ABC to “get back to work”. Later that day, the Prime Minister attends the NRL Grand Final in Sydney.
Another great spectacle. Roosters just too strong. Not just tonight, but all season. Cronk - a champion. Thank you, Billy ‘The Kid’. pic.twitter.com/OWp81zjO6m
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) September 30, 2018
3 October: Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, announces the GST on feminine hygiene products will be abolished.
We put it on the treasurers’ meeting agenda, we got the agreement & now, within 3 months, the GST will be removed.
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) October 3, 2018
Labor didn''t even get around to putting it on the agenda! pic.twitter.com/VVld8k3lOv
5 October: Sydney radio 2GB shock-jock and snappy dresser, Alan Jones, bullies Sydney Opera House chief executive Louise Herron, live on air. Australia learns Assistant Treasurer and Member for Fadden, Stuart Robert, has been slugging the taxpayer up to $2,800 per month – or $90 per day – for his home internet bills when the story breaks in mainstream media.
(Source: IPEA)
7 October: PM attends Bathurst 1000 car races.
Doesn’t get much cooler than that #Bathurst1000 pic.twitter.com/U6YDvrFbnm
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 7, 2018
8 October: Prime Minister is a guest on the Alan Jones morning show. At that time, Alan Jones had failed to apologise to Louise Herron for his behaviour the previous Friday. The Prime Minister, in reference the backlash to the Sydney Opera House being used to promote a Sydney horse race, said Australians are being “precious” and that he sees no problem using “Sydney’s biggest billboard” to promote a horse race. A protest outside the Sydney Opera House planned for the following evening was announced that morning. Shortly after the protest was announced, Alan Jones apologised to Louise Herron and the Prime Minister made no comment in reference to the bullying of Herron by Jones.
9 October: The Prime Minister’s new Environment Minister, Melissa Price, rejects a peer-reviewed climate change report written by 91 climate scientists before having read the full report. Sydney Opera House protest goes ahead that evening.
10 October: Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten, pushes the Prime Minister to release former Liberal MP and report author Phillip Ruddock’s review into religious protections in Australia — which was released five months ago. Calls to release Ruddock’s report grew after a leak of the report suggested religious schools want to be able to ‘enshrine’ traditional policies that discriminate against LGBTIQ teachers, families and students. Prime Minister says he supports the current legislation on the issue, which allows schools to discriminate against LGBTIQ students and staff.
11 October: Debate erupts about religious schools and their right to discriminate against LGBTIQ students, families and teachers. Prime Minister says on Sky that no child should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation. After being expelled with only 24 hours notice from Nauru, Médecins Sans Frontières doctors’ voices cracked with emotion, fighting back tears, some doctors told harrowing tales of their experiences dealing with asylum seekers, refugees and Nauruan locals. The doctors called upon the Prime Minister for a complete evacuation of all asylum seekers and refugees from Nauru.
The mental health of refugees detained by Australia on the Pacific island of Nauru has deteriorated so badly that some children are in a "semi-comatose state", unable to eat, drink or talk, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Thursday.
— euronews (@euronews) October 11, 2018
Read more: https://t.co/Mc3G0qsUjv pic.twitter.com/oHBczBkOUL
So much has happened in 50 days and this is only a snippet of everything that has been happening in Federal politics.
STRANGE COINCIDENCES
Interestingly, I noticed a coincidental correlation on four occasions.
On four occasions, issues were raised that sparked furious debate, as they had done previously in the public domain. The timing of these issues being raised seemed to correlate perfectly with some highly sensitive issues for the Morrison Government.
28 August: Prime Minister announces his lapel pin gift in a tweet and press conference, prompting much discussion around the country. This happened the same day Julia Banks announced she was quitting politics at the next election because of bullying.
5 September: Prime Minister tweets ‘gender whisperer’ comment, prompting much discussion around the country. This happened the same day as the Au Pair Inquiry began.
24 September: Prime Minister tweets ‘self-indulgent loathing’ comment, prompting much discussion around the country about changing the date of Australia Day. This happened the same day as Michelle Guthrie was sacked.
11 October: Leaks from the Ruddock report – which the Government had been sitting on for five months – made their way to the mainstream media over the previous 24 hours, prompting much discussion around the country about religious freedom. This happened the same day Médecins Sans Frontières held their press conference after being expelled from Nauru.
It has been a very "interesting" first 50 days of the Morrison Prime Ministership. Chances are there it won't last many more.
@killmebilly Is is just me or....?#auspol #muppetPM @ScottMorrisonMP pic.twitter.com/OcofpIllLH
— Gav (@yGrael) October 17, 2018
You can follow Belinda Jones on Twitter @belindajones68.
Scott Morrison: "...it reminds me every single day whose side I''m on."
— Bee (@BelindaJones68) August 28, 2018
Lapel pin is made in China.
Nuff said. #auspol https://t.co/zQK6PirWfJ
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License
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